Improvement in machines for clearing railways of snow



S. G, SM|TH..

Machines for Clearing Railways of Snow'. N0.149,688.

Patented April 14, 1874/ V UNITED STATES, PATENT ()rrion.

SILAS Gr. SMITH, OF HOLLIS, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CLEARING RAILWAYS OF SNOW.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,688, dated April14, 1874; application filed February 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, SILAS G. SMITH, of Hollis, in the county of York andState of Maine, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements inSnow-Flows, and'I do hereby declare that r the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan, parts broken out,the same being on an enlarged scale from Fig. 1.

Same letters show like parts.

The purpose of my invention is to produce a device to be attached to alocomotive-engine, and operated by the motions of the wheels of saidengine, for the purpose of removing snow from railroad-tracks.

The parts of my invention are as follows: A is a base pointed at theforward end and slightly shelving toward either side. This moves overthe track, but a slight distance above it. Rising from the base is theprow B, extending off into a V-shape, as illustrated in the drawing. Ashort distance behind the prow and on each side are the rotary disks (J,rigidly set on the shafts I). These shafts have rigidly attached to'themthe bevel-gears E, which match the driving-gears F. The shafts D havethe supports or journals G. The driv' in g-gears are set upon the shaftH, having the bearings I. The rotary disks 0 have the in-' clined radialfans J, which operate to throw the snow first parted and separated bythe prow to either side of the plow as it advances. It should beobserved that the disks are intended to rotate in what may be called abackward directionthat is to say, backwardly or toward the engine, whichcarries the snowplow. l

The position and arrangement of the fans can best be apprehended byreference to the drawing, but it may be said of them that theirarrangement is calculated to prevent the adhering to them of ice andsnow.

The V-shape or flaring part of the prow is provided with a circularrecess to prevent the snow being thrown upward or backward upon theengine. The driving-gears are impelled by rods or links connecting themwith the proper wheels of the engine for this purpose.

The disks-O are placed so that their forward ends come nearly togetheron the front end of the plow, and their rear or the ends near the engineare considerably separated, as shown in the drawing.

If desired, on the inner side of the disks, small fans, similar to thoseon theouter side, may be attached in order that when the device is drawnbackward it will operate to clear the track of any snow that mightotherwise tend to retard its movements.

The object of the base is to break and separate any frozen snow or icethat might be near the track.

I do not claim placing the wheels by which the snow is removed from thetrack obliquely to the direction of the rails; neither do I claim,broadly, imparting motion to the obliquelyplaced wheels from therotation of the engine-' wheels. I do not claim snow-removing fans orwheels placed vertically upon a horizontal stand or table, as seen inpatent No. 110,446, of 1870, or the combination therein shown of shafts,gearing, and driving-rods; neither do I claim a propeller-screw set upona horizontal shaft .in front of the plow, as shown in the application ofG. W. Edwards filed July 3, 1857. My invention consists in the describedarrangement of thedevices named, for the purposes set forth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The snow-plow composed of the base A, prow B, disks 0, carrying the fansJ, shafts D, gears E, gears F, and shaft H, all combined to operate asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this11th day of February, 187 4c.

SILAS e. SMlTH.

Witnesses FRANK H. JORDAN, F. SrANWooD.

